Rena Riffel was born in 1976 in California. She was offered her first modeling contract at only 18 months old. But, her parents opted to raise her in a small town as opposed to starting her a Hollywood career. At 18, Rena was scouted by Elite Model Agency, which launched a successful modeling career and she relocatd back to LA. She won small acting roles in some of the biggest films in Hollywood as a teenager, working with legendary directors, such as Tim Burton in a cameo appearance in BATMAN RETURNS. In 1995, film critics "Siskel & Ebert" reviewed SHOWGIRLS as, "It is All About Eve in a G-String". A star was born when Rena Riffel hit the silver screen with the supporting role of "Penny/Hope", just like that of Marilyn Monroe's supporting role in All About Eve. Showgirls was the dynamic duo, Director Paul Verhoeven and screenplay writer Joe Ezsterhaus following up to the Box Office hit, Basic Instinct. This extremely controversial movie launched Rena's very successful acting career that has now spanned over a decade. As her career blossomed, Showgirls gained momentum over the years. Compared to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, a huge worldwide dedicated cult following emerged to celebrate the film as interactive midnight movie events, an off-Broadway play (Showgirls: The Best Movie Ever Made, Ever!), write ups in books such as "101 Must See Movies For Gay Men", and MGM's 2004 DVD Box Set Re-Release Event complete with Rena being immortalized with her name and hand prints cemented in front of the Hollywood landmark, The Vista Theater. Rena made a name for herself in the industry as the actress who can really dance. Producers immediately cast her along side Demi Moore in the comedy, STRIPTEASE. Co-Starring with Demi and Burt Reynolds, Rena proved herself as a comedic actress. She has starred on numerous sitcoms and television series. To name a few, the grand finale episode of Married With Children, Comedy Central's Strip Mall, a recurring role on MTV's soap opera Spyder Games, a series lead on Here! TV's Dante's Cove. Also, to rave reviews, Rena played a Vegas Showgirl on The Pretender along with Wayne Newton "Mr. Las Vegas". She guest-starred on Clueless, and in the 2 hour pilot of Land's End, she starred with Fred Dryer and Jeffrey Lewis, as stand-up comic who is blackmailing her mobster boyfriend, played by Bryan Cranston (Malcom In The Middle). Variety Magazine reviewed Rena's performance in Land's End as "a show stealing turn'. Rena gave the world more shock therapy when she was seen in David Lynch's dramatic masterpiece, MULHOLLAND DRIVE. Her role was far removed from her typecast of glamorous vixens. She played 'Laney", a homeless drug addicted victim of abuse. As the film won a 2002 Academy Award Nomination for Best Director, Rena proved to be a serious dramatic actress with her stand out acting performance. The fan website (mulholland-drive.net) states that Rena's character is the true protagonist of the film. A long list of leading dramatic roles in independent films showcase Rena's versatility, such as the erotic thriller Dark Confessions, Unstable Minds (Estepona Film Festival's Official Selection), Undercover, and The Pornographer (Best Feature Film Winner at the Arizona Film Festival), and Candyman 3- Day of the Dead. More than a sex symbol, she is a true character actress. Rena has recently competed the film DARK REEL in which she plays a detective along side Tony Todd, her co-star from Candyman, Ed Furlong (American X, Terminator) and Lance Henriksen (Alien, Millennium). The up and coming director, Josh Eisenstadt, who is touted to be the next David Lynch, directs the film. Josh chose to cast Rena against her usual type cast to show her range and open doors in new directions by showcasing her strength and multi-dimensional abilities. Also, two other project are in pre-production, INNER BALANCE written and directed by Josh Eisenstadt and BUTTERFLY LANE, an original screenplay written by Rena and to be directed by Eisendstadt. Few actresses have a career as 'schizo" as Rena Riffel, whose talents have heated up many a mainstream hit and indie smash. Her shape even stole the show in HBO's critically acclaimed, BREAST MEN, cast along side David Schwimmer and the Oscar and Golden Globe Winner, Chris Cooper. Rena is inspired by beauty and entertaining. Her love of dancing, music, singing, costumes and being a showgirl in the limelight is her soul's expression. She idolizes the actresses, dancers, and pin ups of the golden age of Hollywood when it was required to be a multi-talented triple threat. No matter what character she plays, Rena's heart will always be starring in a big beautiful Ziegfeld musical number. TRIVIA |